Association Insight April 6 2016

WEEKLY EDITION April 6, 2016All PSAI Members Invited to Spring Board Meeting andReception in Boston, MassachusettsThis year’s spring Board meeting and related industry events will be held in Boston, Massachusetts on May 12-14.Whether you live in the New England area – or are simply looking for a great reason to visit – all PSAI Members arewelcome to attend.Thursday, May 12 • Daytime: sightseeing around Boston. If interested, contact Karen Holm at [email protected]. • Evening: o Option A: Dinner on your own o Option B: Attend a baseball game at Fenway Park. The Red Sox play the Astros at 7:10 pm. If you are interested in the ball game, contact Scott Thone at [email protected] with the number of tickets you need by Friday, April 8.Friday, March 13 • Morning: free time • 12:30-2:30 pm: PSAI Board meeting • PSAI invites companies to get to know us! o 3:00-3:30 pm: Meet and Greet o 3:30-5:00 pm: Continuing Education – “Portable Sanitation and Special Events” Free to all attendees. If documentation of 1.5 contact hours is needed for license renewal there is a $20 fee per person. o 5:00-7:00 pm: Welcome Reception with hors doeuvres and a cash bar o 7:00pm: Dinner on your own with PSAI Members and interested industry leadersSaturday, March 14 • PSAI Certification Prep Course and Credentialing Exam Registration required by May 1. For more information visit www.psai.org/sign-up-for-a-certification-class

WEEKLY EDITION APRIL 6, 2016More Bad Press – so the PSAI Responds – Again!We need to spread the real story about portable sanitationThere was more bad press for the industry last week – this one without the chance to publicly respond to it by posting onthe article. Executive Director Karleen Kos sent the author an email (see below) and will continue to call outmisinformation whenever it comes to the PSAI's attention. As industry members, you can do the same using informationprovided by the Association. We need to spread the REAL story about portable sanitation!4 Really Nasty Illnesses You Can Catch From a Porta-Potty, by Andrew Leung,www.mic.comThe article claims that portable restrooms are “unsanitary, small awful and are quiteliterally filled with shit.” It then goes on to discuss how there are other things “lurking”in them that suggest one should rethink their drinking and eating habits in order toavoid them at outdoor events. The majority of the article is spent providing detailabout bacterial diseases such as salmonella, norovirus, shilgella infection, andhepatitis A.We will not reprint Andrew’s entire article in this issue – but you can read it by CLICKING HERE.The PSAI respondsExecutive Director Karleen Kos sent the author of the article an email, and also posted the response on the PSAIFacebook page. Member support for the PSAI’s response was positive. Below is Karleen’s email, as well as some of theFacebook responses:Hello Andrew,I read your article titled \"4 Really Nasty Illnesses You Can Catch From a Porta-Potty” posted yesterday on Mic.com. Infact, it reminded me of a similar post on Cosmopolitan’s website a few months back: “5 Life Threatening Illnesses YouCan Get from a Porta-Potty.”I understand that you need to provide copy to the sites for which you write. Possibly, choosing to use the example ofportable restrooms as the vehicle for providing information about communicable diseases was expedient for you. Yet, youmay have created some impressions that leave people even more hesitant to use the portable units than they already are. Have you given any consideration to the downsides of NOT using a portable restroom when nature calls? The diseases that are spread through the other options for relieving oneself are well documented and they create major public health issues for people. Did you consider this in your writing? I would be glad to provide additional information about our industry and the ways in which it contributes to positive health results for communities (as compared to the alternatives) as well as saving 125 million gallons of water day. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 PAGE 2

WEEKLY EDITION APRIL 6, 2016More Bad Press – so the PSAI Responds – Again...continuedAt the Portable Sanitation Association International, we certainly agree that all of the infections mentioned in both yourpost and the Cosmo article are bad indeed - nobody wants to get them. That said, we think choosing to scare peopleabout portable restrooms is both irresponsible and misleading.Germs are not particular. They will live anywhere there is a suitableenvironment. For example, the CDC says the top ways to getnorovirus are from an infected person, contaminated food or water,or by touching contaminated surfaces. These surfaces can beanywhere - not just in a portable restroom - and they are fourth onthe list of ways to catch the disease. In general, germs don't live thatlong outside a human body anyway, so by far the most commonway to catch any of these diseases is through contact with someonewho already has the disease. Anyone who has ever had influenza,that is \"the flu,\" knows this.Our advice is always, \"Take care of yourself, use the portable restrooms at your workplace or event with confidence, andmake sure to employ good hand-washing practices wherever you are. Hand-washing is the best way to avoid unwelcomebacteria that can make you sick.”I welcome further dialogue with you on this topic.Best regards,KARLEEN KOSExecutive DirectorPortable Sanitation Association InternationalFacebook responses from the industry:“Nonsense --- these bugs come from people who don't wash their hands. Anybathroom is germy if people don't wash their hands. Hand sanitizer, people --- don'tassume the person who wants to shake your hand practices good hygiene!”“His degree is in ‘Creative Writing.’ Perhaps he should write a novel or maybe comic books.”“This is why disinfecting all of our portable restrooms when they are washed and prep for special events and construction.We provide hand sanitizers in all special events portable restrooms and have hand wash sinks for special events andconstruction jobs.”“That's why every portable restroom that I service gets a nice blast of hospital grade disinfectant before I fire up thevacuum. If a person still feels uncomfortable about using a portable restroom, all they've gotta do is put some handsanitizer on some toilet paper and use it to wipe off the seat.” PAGE 3

WEEKLY EDITION APRIL 6, 2016Positive Article about PSAI Tiered BenefitsThe PSAI got some positive press today in \"Associations Now,\" adaily e-newsletter for association executives. Our tiered membershipstructure – and the lessons we've learned from implementing it – arehelping other associations find ways to better serve the companies intheir industries.READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT THE PSAIPortable Restrooms AspenHand Wash Stations and Glacier IIDeodorizer & Support Products Portable RestroomsMobile Restroom Trailerse most impressive restrooms in the industry at the most a ordable prices.vepeaks.net 866.293.1502 231.830.8099 PAGE 4

WEEKLY EDITION APRIL 6, 2016Springtime Portable Restroom PictorialThe Swellesley Report – a blog about the local happenings in Wellesley,Massachusetts, shares some whimsical and fun facts and photos about portablerestrooms: • They come in an artist’s palette of colors, all of which carry great symbolic significance. A green potty clearly symbolizes an environmentally conscious project, while an orange potty suggests a project blessed with energy and creativity. • The very placement of the potty is worthy of lengthy commentary. For example, by observing the distance of the potty from the property line, one might reflect on the artist’s message regarding neighbor relations. • By taking note of the way precariously perched potties are leaning, one might gain insight into what the artist is suggesting about the political leanings or either the homeowners, or the general contractors, or the Port-a-Potty supplier.“There’s nothing like seeing an installation piece on-site to open your eyes to the many nuances that can be appreciatedonly by making a pilgrimage to the actual location, to see the piece as the artist meant for it to be seen. Perhaps to evenpartake in some performance art. Ponder what the artist has left unseen in the work.”READ THE ARTICLE AND VIEW THE PHOTO MONTAGE 5IF
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WEEKLY EDITION APRIL 6, 2016MAY 201612-13 Board of Directors spring meeting and industry reception: Marriott Peabody, Boston, Massachusetts14 PSAI Certification Prep Course and Credentialing Exam, Boston, MassachusettsAUGUST 201615 World Portable Sanitation DayNOVEMBER 201616-19 Nuts and Bolts Educational Conference New Orleans, Louisiana Registration opens in June PAGE 6

WEEKLY EDITION APRIL 6, 2016Runner Gives Good Perspective on AppreciatingPortable Restrooms During a MarathonJennifer Huffman of the Napa Valley Register shares her changing point of view andappreciation of portable restrooms as the race progresses…“…Come mile 22, my toileting standards had dropped faster than a marathoner with cramps in both legs.At that rest stop, there was no more tiptoeing around or carefully inspecting toilet seats.I flung open the door. Make room, runners. I had to squat and I had to do it fast.Sitting down never felt so good. I loved that portable toilet and its bucket of blue chemical water. I didn’t want to leave.I rested my head on my knees and wished I could stay inside its sheltered cocoon forever.But I had a marathon to finish…”READ THE BLOGJoke of the WeekFour baseball fans want to show their teams that they're each thebiggest fans in the world, so they decide to climb the biggestmountain they can find.The first one to the top is a Cubs fan, and he says, \"I'm the biggestfan in the world! This is for you Cubs!\" and he jumps off.The second one to the top is a Mets fan and he says, \"I love youmore than anything Mets, this is for you!\" and he jumps off.The last two people who get to the top get there at the same time. One is a Red Sox fan and one is a Yankeesfan. When they're both standing at the top together, the Red Sox fan says, \"This one is for all baseball fanseverywhere!\" And the Red Sox fan pushes the Yankees fan off.If you have a joke to share, please email us at [email protected]. © Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI) • 2626 E 82nd Street, Suite 175 • Bloomington, MN 55425 www.psai.org • 952-854-8300